College of the Canyons has been selected to collaborate in the U.S. Department of Labor Growing Advanced Manufacturing Apprentices Across America program, which will prepare and place 5,000 workers into pre-apprenticeship and apprenticeship roles.

Led by West Los Angeles College and the South Bay Workforce Investment Board, the program was funded by a $12 million grant from the U.S. Department of Labor to support expand registered apprenticeship in advanced manufacturing, primarily in the aerospace and bioscience industries.

“This award propels College of the Canyons on to the national stage in the conversation regarding apprenticeship,” said Jeffrey Forrest, vice president of Economic and Workforce Development at the college.

“In addition, the collaboration between colleges from different regions in the State of California is historic, and will become a pilot for encouraging similar partnerships among the 115 community colleges that comprise the California Community College System,” Forrest said.

The college will team up with El Camino College and West L.A. College to deliver 1,500 apprentices and pre-apprentices in the next 48 months, Forrest said.

The remaining 3,500 apprenticeships will be secured by educational institutions and workforce development entities from around the nation.

Other local collaborative partners include Los Angeles Workforce Development Board, Los Angeles Economic Development Corporation, Project Lead the Way, Training Funding Partners, Goodwill of Southern California and the Aero-Flex Unilateral Apprenticeship Committee.

COC currently offers various apprenticeship opportunities for students through partnerships with local employers, such as AMS Fulfillment.

Administered by the Strong Workforce Apprenticeship Group, or SWAG, participants who complete the program receive a national credential from the U.S. Department of Labor and the Division of Apprenticeship Standards.

About SWAG
SWAG is a partnership which combines the talents of a leading Workforce Intermediary in Goodwill Southern California, with the resources of College of the Canyons, a pioneer in corporate training and skills development.

This collaboration results in a model of apprenticeship that is functional, and easy for companies to implement.

But our most valuable partners are companies like AMS Fulfillment who utilize apprenticeship to develop a pipeline of talent for their workforce.

For more information about SWAG, visit the program’s website.